title: Epidemiological survey of knowledge, attitudes, and health literacy concerning mental illness in a national community sample: a global burden.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning mental illness among Qatari and other Arab expatriates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional survey conducted from October 2008 to March 2009. A questionnaire was designed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding mental illness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2254 subjects surveyed, 49.6% were Qataris, 50.4% other Arab expatriates, 54.8% males, and 45.2% females. A majority of the respondents thought that substance abuse like alcohol or drugs could result in mental illness (84.7%). Fewer than half of the subjects believed that mentally ill people are mentally retarded (40.6%). 48.3% believed that mental illness could result from punishment from God. The most common information source on mental illness was media (64.2%). Recognition of common mental disorders in the studied population was poor (72.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of mental illness among the Arabic-speaking population of Qatar was quite poor.
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Suhaila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghuloum
authors.forename: Abdulbari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bener
authors.forename: F Tuna
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Burgut
keywords: Arab population; Middle East; Qatari; knowledge; mental illness; practice